New Report from TRAFFIC Highlights Illegal Rhino Trade

A new report conducted by TRAFFIC revealed that last year, 448 rhinos were killed in South Africa alone. To put this into context, the number of rhinos illegally killed five years ago, was just 12. It appears that an upsurge in demand for illegally sourced rhino horn to be used in medicine is creating a dark market place that needs to be stopped immediately.

TRAFFIC are the wildlife trade monitoring network who weret established in 1974. They work in nearly 30 countries across the globe to ensure that any animal or plant trade will not threaten the species existence. Their report shows that rhino poaching in South Africa is reaching a crisis point that unless stopped in it’s tracks, could lead to the extinction of the rhino all together. In particular it highlighted a huge network of trafficking from South Africa to Vietnam.

The TRAFFIC report proves that basic lapses in security and corruption is at the very core of this dreadful trade, which is run by sophisticated criminal syndicates. The belief in some countries that rhino horn has some kind of therapeutical, magical powers is not only misguided, it’s actually completely wrong. Rhino horn is nothing more than a substance called keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails.

TRAFFIC’s rhino expert Tom Milliken, said –

We can get people to do the right thing. We just have to be dogged in our commitment.

You can view the full report from TRAFFIC here : The South Africa—Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus

South Africa authorities are now hitting back thanks to an increase in financial resources and stronger law enforcement. If you would like to help the plight of the Rhino, why not adopt one through Udopt? You will be providing much needed funds to help bring this amazing animal back from the precipice of disaster by supporting conservation work alongside the restoration of the rhino’s habitat. Please help before it’s too late.